Fasting blood insulin was significantly lower in the rAAV·VLDLR group versus untreated diabetic rats although fasting blood glucose levels were not significantly different in both groups at the end of the study. rAAV·VLDLR-treated animals had significantly increased lipoprotein lipase activity and reduced aortic atherosclerosis.
Previous studies using transgenic mice and rabbits have demonstrated that high level of LPL activity in adipose and skeletal muscle protects against diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and subsequently prevents aortic atherosclerosis.